There’s a new trend in giving back to the community: bra recycling. It’s big in the UK with several different charities dedicated to this cause, and other organizations are sprouting up across the globe. The first major charity focused bra recycling for the US and Canada, The Bra Recyclers (formally known as Bosom Buddies), is an Arizona-based textile recycling company.  Since October, there is now a Toronto-based location for recycling your bras.

It’s a pretty simple concept: women mail clean bras to the address given on the website or drop them off at a specific location. The Bra Recyclers find charities, group homes, and missions to find deserving women and girls who are working towards self-sufficiency. Then a network of Bra Ambassadors passes out the bras and helps women get fitted. It’s easy, it’s green and it brings women together to empower other women. The bras give women the confidence boost we’ve all experienced when we get a great-fitting bra.

While you probably shouldn’t give them any old bra you have (remember how easily they stretch out), any rarely-worn bra,

Bra Recycling Bank in the UK

particularly maternity bras and post-surgical bras, make a great donation. And why not buy a few new bras and donate those as well? The women receiving the bras will see the tags and be even more grateful that someone was thinking of them!

There are four steps to donation: wash the bra, fill out a bra recycling form, put it in a box, and mail it to the address below. Happy giving!

3317 S. Higley Rd, Ste 114-441

Gilbert, AZ 85297

Comment here below, connect with us over Twitter (@nowthatslingeri), and on our Facebook page!

Rachel
rachelg@nowthatslingerie.com

The Bra Recyclers: “If it doesn’t fit, recycle it.”
http://brarecycling.com/

Bra Recycling Photo:
http://a2.twimg.com/profile_images/595513933/1095_reasonably_small.jpg

Bra Bank in Birmingham, England:
http://www.hertsmere.gov.uk/ASSETS/images/press_releases/bra-recycling.jpg

Bra Recyclers Establish Location in Toronto
http://www.prlog.org/11708213-the-bra-recyclers-establish-official-bra-recycling-location-in-toronto.html

Featured image source:
http://www.ecouterre.com/recycling-old-bras-eco-fashion-dire-straits-faux-fur-pas/

Donated lace and underwire garments will be turned into RPF (Refuse Paper and Plastic Fuel), which is cheaper than coal-burning methods, as well as cleaner. Bras can now live a second life, where they can go to provide local energy in Japan, and they provide far less carbon dioxide emissions than traditional methods of energy produce.

Another added benefit for those in the local Japanese community is that women don’t have to live with the fear of perverts (!) taking their old underwear from the trash bins! (The laws in that region govern that panties and bras must be disposed of in clear plastic bags.) Apparently, according to recent polls, 61% of women appreciate the option of being able to burn their panties and bras instead of trashing them, due to the unpleasant threat of people rifling through their trash.

So why not support the movement and pick up a few bras by Triumph International? In doing so, your purchase shows support for a company that is brainstorming new ways to bring energy relief to tsunami-stricken Japan. Triumph International stays true to their name, being a company that sells to countries the world over, not just Japan. Shopping just became much more global, green, and efficient-all with the click of a mouse.

Happy shopping!

Why don’t you let us know what you think of the green movement? Follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, leave a comment below, or email me!
-Jenn
Jenn@nowthatslingerie.com

Sources & References

Full Story: http://www.refinery29.com/japanese-women-burning-bras-to-create-fuel-avoid-perverts?utm_source=feed&utm_medium=rss

Photo Credits:
Push Up Lace Set: http://www.nowthatslingerie.com/en/details.php?id=1838-push-up-collection-lacy-push-up-bra-triumph-lingerie

Splendid Curves Bikini: http://www.nowthatslingerie.com/en/details.php?id=84298-splendid-curves-bikini-triumph-lingerie

Featured Image:
http://www.nowthatslingerie.com/en/details.php?id=3037-petites-lace-maximizer-push-up-underwire-bra-triumph-lingerie

Washing

As our Bra Doctor says on her blog about Lingerie Care, bras best retain their shape, color, and fit when they are hand-washed. It’s best to do separate “loads” for different colored bras; I do darks and lights in two separate washes. If you really don’t have time to handwash, there’s another option:  you can put them in a mesh wash bag like Fashion Essentials Bra Saver Wash Bags, and send them through the delicate cycle on the machine. Make sure you hook the bra back together so that the hooks don’t get caught and tangled in any lace on the bra or other pieces you’re washing.

Bra Saver Wash Bag

Another issue to consider when washing bras is detergent. Many have chemicals that break down the elastic bands, making bras lose elasticity and permanently stretch out. So it’s best to get a specialty lingerie wash, like the Silk and Lingerie Wash pictured from Le Blanc, or try using Woolite or a delicate lingerie washing powder. It’s worth the investment, as you only need a small capful per wash, and they get stains out of silk clothing too!

Silk and Lingerie Wash

Most of these detergents require soaking bras in a sink or basin for only 20 minutes, making the process of hand-washing much easier.

Drying

Again, our Bra Doctor recommends air drying bras, and I completely agree. Throwing bras into a hot, spinning dryer is the quickest way to wear them out – especially their elasticity. Lay them flat on a drying rack or off of a doorknob, out of direct sunlight. This will prevent stretching and helps a bra maintain its shape.

Don't store your bras like this! All the molded cups are squished flat!

Storing

Bras can just get stuffed in the underwear drawer under everything else, right? WRONG. Bras with molded cups should be stacked in apile in a drawer or on a shelf and not folded in any way, shape or

This is a great way to store bras. Molded cups are stacked, lace bras are folded

form. Turning one cup inside out and folding it inside the other cup is a huge mistake many women make. This can leave permanent creases in the cups that can even show through clothing and make breasts look oddly lumpy. You have some extra leeway with lacy bras that don’t have molded cups, which can be folded if necessary. But since you’re already making enough room in a drawer to stack your other bras, might as well stack those too, right?

Traveling

Bra Travel Bag - practical with a sense of humor

So now that we all know not to fold the cups into each other, how can we fit these bras into our suitcases? One option is a bra bag, which are hard-cover cases that hold two to three molded cup bras. They come in two different sizes to accommodate bras of any shape and size, and are quirky and cute! You can also lay your bras flat on top of other clothing and stuff the cups with socks or panties. Never stack clothing on top of your bras, and really try not to stretch or squish them. This aspect of traveling can sometimes be a challenge, so good luck!

Bras are the foundation of your wardrobe and are a big influence on how you look and feel each day. They are an investment, which means we sometimes spend extra time and money to make them fit perfectly and last as long as possible. When you come home at the end of the day feeling comfortable, supported and feminine, it’s definitely worth the investment!

Have any good tips for bra care? Comment here below, e-mail me or tell us on Twitter and Facebook!

Rachel
rachelg@nowthatslingerie.com

Photo Credits & Sources:

Bra Doctor’s Blog on Lingerie Care:
http://www.nowthatslingerie.com/bradoctor/blog/lingerie-care 

Fashion Essentials Forever New Bra Saver Wash Bag:
http://www.nowthatslingerie.com/en/category.php?cat=f1002

Silk and Lingerie Wash:

http://www.linenwash.com/silk_wash.htm 

Bra Bag:
http://mio-destino-limited.amazonwebstore.com/Brag-Bra-Bag-in-Pink-Polka/M/B0054QUTPG.htm?traffic_src=froogle&utm_medium=CSE&utm_source=froogle

Incorrect Storage Picture:
http://www.boomergirl.com/2011/07/ive-got-drawers-like-victoria-has.html

Correct Storage Picture:
http://www.tipsy.in/care_sizing_next.html 

If you are looking to update your closet, it’s the go-to texture for any season, any occasion. Lace is delicate, yet durable-somehow managing the stress of the harsher wash cycle when you accidentally throw a pair of lace panties in with the darks.

It’s affordable, flirty, and fun-nothing works like lace when you want to dress up a plain pair of panties or a ho-hum white bra. Lace is also easily accessible-it’s everywhere, and it’s something that both you and your significant other can agree looks fantastic on you, with the lights on or off.

The Bra Doctor Brigitte Collection's Hot Bra and Panty Set.

Fortunately, lace is making a comeback.  Lace isn’t what you only see on your granny’s section of the intimate apparel department-it’s showing up on runway shows, junior clothing, and in the raciest lingerie ads that you see on TV. Lace reminds us that women are delicate, yet strong, creatures that deserve to be pampered and adored.

Lace has been around for hundreds of years-and women from all cultures around the globe are dressed in the frilly material. The material looks good on almost everyone-no matter how old you are, the color of your skin, your height, or your frame. Lace makes an excellent accessory to almost any outfit-from bridal attire to even pajamas!

Vicky Chemise, found on nowthatslingerie.com

Lace has shown us that the fabric isn’t going anywhere for a long time. Make sure that you show off both your haute couture side, and your classical one, by investing in lace.

Questions? Comment below, follow us on Facebook and Twitter, or email us!

Jenn

jenn@nowthatslingerie.com

Photo Credits:

Bra and Panties from the Bra Doctor’s Brigitte Collection-http://www.nowthatslingerie.com/en/details.php?id=4002b-brigitte-sheer-lacy-underwired-full-cup-bra-bra-doctor-lingerie

Vicky Chemise- http://www.nowthatslingerie.com/en/details.php?id=8125-vicky-lined-lacy-nightgown-arianne-lingerie

Featured top image:

Fuschia bra from Triumph http://www.nowthatslingerie.com/en/details.php?id=1838-push-up-collection-lacy-push-up-bra-triumph-lingerie

Sweetest Sin Lace bra by Blush http://www.nowthatslingerie.com/en/details.php?id=222308-sweetest-sin-semi-sheer-lace-balconette-underwire-bra-blush-lingerie